Honoring Rosa Parks: A Life of Courage, Friendship, and Lasting Change
Born on February 4, 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama, Rosa Parks became a defining figure in the Civil Rights Movement. Her quiet but firm refusal to give up her bus seat to a white passenger on December 1, 1955, sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a turning point in the struggle for racial justice.
[Rosa Parks] “Poor Peoples March at Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial, [Washington, D.C.]” Original black and white negative by Warren K. Leffler. Taken June 19th, 1968, Washington D.C, United States Washington D.C, United States (@libraryofcongress). Colorized by Jordan J. Lloyd. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017650273/
However, Parks’ activism went far beyond that single act of defiance. As a dedicated member of the NAACP, she had long worked to document racial injustices and advocate for equal rights. In 1957, following continued threats and economic hardship, she relocated to Hampton, Virginia, where she worked at Hampton Institute (now Hampton University) as a hostess at the Holly Tree Inn, the faculty dining hall. Though she hoped to establish a permanent home there with her family, housing difficulties ultimately led her to move to Detroit in 1958.
In Detroit, Parks remained active in the fight for civil rights, working for Congressman John Conyers and championing causes such as fair housing, economic justice, and police reform. She also built strong alliances with other leaders, including Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress. Parks supported Chisholm’s groundbreaking 1972 presidential campaign, and their friendship reflected a shared dedication to racial and gender equity.
While Parks is widely celebrated, she was not the first to challenge bus segregation. Nine months before her arrest, 15-year-old Claudette Colvin refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus and was arrested. Colvin later became a key plaintiff in Browder v. Gayle, the case that led to the desegregation of public transportation in Montgomery. Though her story was less publicized at the time, her courage helped pave the way for Parks and the larger movement.
Today, Parks’ legacy continues to inspire action. February 4 is recognized as Transit Equity Day, honoring her role in the fight for fair and accessible public transportation. This year, Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) will mark the occasion by offering free fares on all buses, light rail, ferry, paratransit, and OnDemand Rideshare services on Monday, February 10. As we reflect on her impact, we are reminded that her fight was never just about a seat on a bus—it was about dignity, freedom, and the fundamental right to move freely in society. Her courage remains a guiding light in the ongoing pursuit of justice.